At almost 2.8 million, a record 51.7% of the population, have now signed up to the Organ Donor Register in Scotland.
In 2018, there were 148,488 new registrations from people willing to be organ donors.
The SNP Government is working on a package of measures to further increase the number of potential donors. This includes legislation introduced to the Scottish Parliament to move to a soft opt-out system for organ and tissue donation. A public consultation in 2017 showed 82% of respondents support this move.
Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick MSP said:
"It's great to have a record number of people on the Organ Donor Register. This increases the chance of a potentially life-saving and life-changing gift for someone this year. However, with more than 550 people still waiting for a transplant, I would encourage people to consider making it their New Year's resolution and join the Organ Donor Register. One donor can save up to nine lives and transform even more by donating tissue.
"Thanks to the generosity of donors and their families and the work of the NHS, we've seen great progress on organ donation over the last few years. We are working on a number of measures to increase donor numbers and save the lives of more people in Scotland.
"The move to a soft opt-out scheme aims to further increase the number of donors, while honouring the donation decision that a person has made in life."
Kenneth Gibson MSP added:
“This is obviously a very heartening development. I am delighted that so many potential donors signed up just in the last year.
“In the last year 829 people in Scotland received a transplant, but more than 550 are still waiting for an organ or skin tissue which could save or transform their lives. Anyone could find themselves in this situation at some point, not only those who suffer from medical conditions.
“The Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill will change organ and tissue donation from the current 'opt-in' system to a soft 'opt-out' system, of course with safeguards in place to minimise the risk of a person becoming a donor if they would not have wished to donate.
I registered as an organ donor a long time ago and encourage everyone to register through the Organ Donation Scotland website.”
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